The BW Physician Assistant Program utilizes CASPA for application processing.

The CASPA application process for the May 2015 class is open through November 1, 2014.

Admission to the Baldwin Wallace PA Program is a highly selective and competitive process, seeking to enroll candidates with the strongest academic preparation and a diversity of backgrounds and achievements. The Admission Committee carefully reviews the academic preparation and achievements of each candidate for admission. Selection is based on a combination factors: academic performance (GPA and GRE), letters of recommendation, personal narrative, shadowing experience with physician assistants working in the field, life/work experiences and an on-campus interview with program faculty.

In addition to these application criteria, preferences for selection include:

Candidates with direct patient care experience

Baldwin Wallace University alumni

Ohio residents

Applicants to the PA program must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in all college work. The average cumulative and science GPAs for candidates selected for admission to the 2013 PA cohort is 3.6.

Official College Transcripts

Official transcripts from each college/university you attended must be mailed directly to:

CASPA
P.O. Box 9108
Watertown, MA 02471

Candidates who have been admitted to Baldwin Wallace University will be required to send another set of official transcripts to the BW Admission Office. You do not need to send them to BW unless requested.

Recommendations

Candidates must submit three recommendations (references) to CASPA. At least one of the recommendations must be from a physician assistant or physician. The other two should be from health care professionals, a university/college professor or advisor, a work supervisor or manager.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE general test is required of all applicants to the PA program, and must be submitted to CASPA. The program GRE code is 0498 Baldwin Wallace U PA CASPA. The GRE must be taken within the last 5 years. Strong candidates have GRE scores at or above the 50th percentile in all categories.

The MCAT is not used as a substitute for the GRE.

Personal Statement

As part of the CASPA application process, prepare a 500-1000 word writing sample that helps the Admission Committee become acquainted with you in ways different from courses, grades and other objective data.

PA Shadowing Experience

Candidates are required to log at least 40 hours of shadowing experience with a practicing physician assistant in the U.S..

Direct Patient Care Experience

Any other patient care related experience - paid or volunteer - should be included in your CASPA application. This may include shadowing hours for other health care professions.

Interview with Physician Assistant Faculty

Once completed applications are received from CASPA, the PA Faculty will select candidates they would like to interview as part of the admission process. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted for this purpose.

International Candidates

Candidates for the PA Program must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Clinical training and experience from another country brings depth to your application, but does not waive other prerequisite and application requirements.

Transcripts from foreign institutions must be translated and verified by World Educational Services as part of the CASPA application process.

All prerequisite courses must be taken at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam is required for all candidates for whom English is a second language. Minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based exam, or 100 on the internet-based exam, must be achieved on a test taken within the last 2 years. To register to take the TOEFL, go to www.ets.org/toefl/register.

Criminal Record

Candidates with a criminal record are not eligible for enrollment in the Physician Assistant Program at Baldwin Wallace University. All candidates must have a clear Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) report and a clear Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report.

Accreditation

New Program Approval by ARC-PA - The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional to the Baldwin Wallace University Physician Assistant Program. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status. The status indicates that the plans and resource allocation for the proposed program appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards, if fully implemented as planned. Accreditation – Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. BW enrolled its first class of Physician Assistant students in May 2013.